with Jeanne Volume 3, No. 3 November 5, 2007 AAAnnnnnnooouuunnnccceeemmmeeennntttsss Although the rain of two weeks ago seems like only a distant memory, the School Programs Committee has asked that I remind docents of the Photo by Wyn Hoag decision last year to refrain from providing hot chocolate to hikers on wet days. Although it is a nice warming gesture, recent experience has resulted in sticky messes, blown fuses (as parents tried to plug appliances into our testy electrical system), and, of course, ANTS. We will try to always have a warm fire in the stove on those cold days. Speaking of nice gestures, please also refrain from sharing your food with hikers. They may choose to share food with one another, or the teacher may take responsibility for a hungry child, but the sharing of food between our volunteers and students is inadvisable giving food allergy concerns. And finally, please reward your hikers with a smile, some praise and a newt card only. The giving of gifts, even small ones, makes other hikers feel left out. The Juniper Committee has asked that I remind docents that you must include both the first and LAST name of any hiker you wish to nominate for the Juniper Program. Nominees for whom only a first name is provided—even if the school and teacher are listed—will not be considered. Remember, it may be two years between a third grader’s visit and his or her eventual participation in the Juniper Program. Tracking first names through past teachers and past classes is simply too difficult for the Juniper Committee to take on. And now, from the Department of Corrections: I must fess up to a major error in the last edition of Trail Talk. I got so excited about ticks, I switched the names and identities of two of them. Please make a note that the “Winter Tick” that I showed questing on the stalk of grass is actually the “Pacific Coast Tick.” The so-called “Pacific Coast Tick” nymphs I showed huddled together on a single blade of grass, were actually Winter Tick nymphs. Which, if you think about it, makes sense since it’s the Winter Ticks that are a single host tick….they wouldn’t have been “questing” as adults since they stay on their same host for their entire life…..Sorry about that! On to the trails! In the Oak Woodlands Standing on the bridge near the Unnatural Trail, I was entertained by a flock of bushtits. These tiny busy birds forage in flocks of up to forty, moving this way and that in the canopy of trees searching for insects and spiders. Sometimes they flock Prepared by Jeanne Wirka for ACR Education. Vol. 3, No. 3 (November 5, 2007). All photos are used for educational purpose only. 1 with other species as well. They are year round residents here at Bouverie. While the call of an individual bushtit is an unremarkable “tsit”, the flock together produces a kind of staccato chorus, as if the birds were playing in a tiny steel drum band. If you hear this tinny symphony, look up in the canopy to search for a rag-tag band o’ birds. Don’t you love those days when you discover something you’ve never seen before on the trail and then have the added satisfaction of going back home or to Gilman Hall and actually figuring out what it is? Well, I had that experience today with a new kind of gall (new for me, at least). Hiking along the Rocky Road Trail, I noticed a rather large coast live oak with little green things lining the midrib and the lateral veins. It looked kind of like caterpillar frass, but when I picked up the leaf, they were clearly tiny galls. I went back to my office and consulted Ron Russo’s new Field Guide to Plant Galls of California and Other Western States [Bouverie library call number 582.02 RUS] but couldn’t find a match for this particular color or arrangement. So, I went to our trusty gall collection (in the insect cabinet next to the bird cabinet) and found an old live oak leaf with the same shape and pattern, but the galls themselves were brown, not green. So, went back to the Russo guide, looked up the species name from our collection, and Lo and Behold, there it was. The two-horned gall wasp The unisexual generation of or Dryocosmus dubiosus. What makes it tricky is that this is one of the two-horned gall wasp those gall wasps that has alternating generations of unisexual and forms galls along the midrib bisexual forms, each of which produces a different shape of gall. The and lateral veins of Coast ones I found are induced by the larvae of the unisexual generation and Live Oak (top photo). In have little tiny horns on each side (hence the name “two-horned”). The close-up, you can see how galls themselves are green when fresh, but turn brown as they age. The this species got its name larvae will overwinter in diapause [Def: a kind of “suspended” (bottom photo taken in animation during which an animal (usually an insect) becomes dormant, Alameda County by Joyce does not grow, and awaits specific hormonal or environmental cues to Gross. Used with become active again] and then pupate in the spring. The galls of the permission). next bi-sexual generation will look like brown glossy little clubs and will grow on the edges of the leaves, not the veins. Very, very cool. Keep your eyes peeled for these little guys. The leaf I found will be available at the microscopes for hiking day viewing. On the Knoll Trail About once each hiking season, I feel it is my duty to lobby on behalf of the enchanting yet lonely Knoll Trail. What better time of year to tackle the aerobic hillside than during the cool still days of fall. You will be rewarded by pungent fragrance of chaparral plants like Sonoma Sage, the intense deep red color of manzanita wood, and unparalleled views of Sonoma Valley. The forest canopy on the way up the trail is a unique blend of Douglas Fir, Madrone, Manzanita, Knobcone Pine, Black Oak, Coast Live Oak and Interior Live Oak. Near the top of the trail, you will encounter a fairly thick stand of Knobcone Pine. Prepared by Jeanne Wirka for ACR Education. Vol. 3, No. 3 (November 5, 2007). All photos are used for educational purpose only. 2 Which brings me to a little refresher course on conifers. We have only THREE species of conifer at Bouverie: Douglas Fir, Coast Redwood, and Knobcone Pine. They are all conifers because their seeds are contained in cones. They are not all “pines” nor are their cones all “pinecones,” even though many people lump all conifers under the general name “pine trees.” All conifers have both male cones and female cones. The male cones (the ones with pollen) are generally small and found at the ends of branches towards the bottom of the tree (see photo above). The female cones (the ones with the seeds), are generally larger and found at the tops of trees. Point this out to the kids; this is a good time of year to see conifers loaded down with crowns of cones. Ask them why they think the male cones are at the bottom of the tree. Hint: each tree has both male and female cones. Another hint: Conifers are wind pollinated. Another hint: to make seeds, a tree needs to get pollen from a different tree, not itself. Got it? Knobcone Pine is our ONLY pine tree. How do Male cones of you know it’s a pine? Knobcone Pine (top) Because only pine trees are smaller and have their needles in located at the end of bundles. We do not have twigs. Female cones Digger Pine (aka Foothill are attached to the Pine, see note below*). branches and trunk They look similar and both (bottom). have needles in bundles of three, but Foothill Pine cones are large and open upon maturity whereas Knobcone Pine cones are tightly sealed and attached to the main branches. This type of Females cones of conifers found at Bouverie, from closed cone is called serotinous. Sealed tight with right to left: Coast redwood (smallest), Douglas Fir resin, the cone may remain on the tree for decades, (mid-size), and Knobcone pine (the two largest). The opening only when a fire passes through. Although cone on the far left is an opened example of the some cones do open in the absence of fire, this fire- tightly closed serotinous cone normally seen on adapted habit makes Knobcone Pine a good colonizer Knobcone pine. after fire. Plus, the fact that the tree is covered with decades-old dryed cones full of resinous chemicals make it not only fire-adapted but fire-promoting. *Note on common names for Foothill Pine: Although we don’t have them here, I would like to remind folks that the term “Foothill Pine” is much preferred over “Digger Pine,” as the term Digger was used as a derogatory reference to Native Americans. Foothill pines are also called Ghost or Grey Pines as well. The Knoll Trail is also a great place to see a plethora of both Madrone and Manzanita berries this time of year. If you are hiking with Spanish speaking kids, ask them what they think the Manzanita bush is named for. Manzana is apple in Spanish; Manzanita means “little apple.” A very apt name when you look at the tiny fruits up close (see photo, right).